[supermw]

Can I ask what your back problems are and how they started? Were they from doing the squats and deadlifts themselves or other injuries? I see plenty of people past their 40s still doing squats and deadlifts so it's not like there is a general age limit it seems.

[jcadam]

For the last five or so years, I've had more or less constant pain/stiffness in my lower back, which is definitely aggravated by lifts like squats or DLs. Heck, running too often aggravates it. At work, I have a sit/stand desk, and I have to alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day, because doing too much of one or the other starts to hurt.

It seemed to come on gradually. What initially caused it I don't know... I played football in high school, I've lifted weights since I was a teenager (only cutting out squats/DLs when they became too... risky), I was in the Army for a bit, who knows... should probably get a doctor to look at it.

My father started having problems with his lower back around the same age (30s), so maybe there's a genetic/hereditary issue. Though at least he still manages to do squats in his 60s. I wonder if having a longer spine (I'm about 5 inches taller than him) would make my issues worse?

[supermw]

Do you stand on anti-fatigue mats?

[jcadam]

Yes, they do help.